Circular linking machine



Dec. 2, 1958 w. DARANDlK CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1 1955 INVENTOR. WM Jana/M4! III-cum 5. WW

Dec. 2, 1958 w. DARANDIK 2,862,464

CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

1958 W.'DARANDIK 2,862,464

CIRCULAR LINKING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 2 a; I .r 2 K) l g "k & Q v W/fi), 1 l I I I O 0 I I 1' I l 2 I O Q q q i w a Q INVENTOR. WM BMW/e new 5 Wm M 4 United States Patent p 2,862,464 v CIRCULAR LlNKING MACHINE Wilhelm Darandik, Hamburg, Germany 7 Application May 19, '1 9 55,-Serial No. 509,594 Claims priority, application Germany May 2 (l, 1954 16 Claims. (Cl. 112-25 The present invention relates to circular linking machines and more particularly to a circular linking machine having a rotary needle supporting ring, and stitch-forming means.

Machines of this type are particularly used forlinking knitted goods. When pieces of knitted goods are linked or sewn together, it is frequently necessary to 'mount a large pieceon a set of needles in such manner thatithe piece is located above the needles. The piece must be folded back during the linking operation when a second work piece is mounted on the needles, while the second work piece is usually suspended on the needles and hangs downwardly, since otherwise the work pieces would interfere with the linking operation.

In the known linking machines, the operating means for rotating the needle supporting ring and for driving the stitch-forming means are located in the region of the needles so that it is very difficul't to fold back the upper work pieces, and moreover there is the danger of soiling the work pieces by oil or grease. Furthermore, work pieces may be caughtin the gears of the operating means.

or slip downwardly and prevent further mounting 'of another work piece or interfere with the operation of the stitch-forming means. The provision of ,a protecting cover for the operating means is insuflicient for overcoming this disadvantage since the upper work piece slides downwardly along the protecting cover and interferes with the linking operation. .7

vIt. is the objectof the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the known art, and to provide for supporting work pieces on a smooth surface in a position in which they do not interfere with the linking operation.-

It is another object of the present invention to provide a work piece supporting plate having a smooth surface for slidingly supporting work pieces mounted 'on the needle ring and moving with the same.

It is a further object of the present invention to arrange the drive means for the needle supporting ring underneath the work piece supporting plate, and to arrange the operating means for the stitch-forming means underneath the plate and in a hollow upright support located at the center of the work piece supporting plate.

With these objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in a circular linking machine which comprises, in combination, supporting means having a vertical axis; a

circular plate having a smooth top surface and being. mounted on the supporting means concentriowith the .f vertical axis. with the top surface extending transverse at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial Y direction from the upright support spaced, from the top surface of the circular plate and having a free end located above the needles; first stitch-forming means mounted on the supportingmeans underneath the circular plate and adjacent. the .needlesupporting ring; and second stitchforming means located at the free end of the arm and cooperating with the first stitch-forming means during rotation of ,the needle, supporting ring and of the set of needles to link work pieces mounted on the set of, needles and sliding on the top surface of the circular plate.

The operating means for the first stitch-forming means are also located underneath the circular plate, and the V operating means for the second stitch-forming means are located in the upright support which is made hollow.

Since the first stitch-forming means includes a gripper which mustmove into a position projecting above the top surface of the circular plate, the circular plate is formed with a recess adjacent the needle supporting ring and the v needles, and preferably the recess is covered partly by a cover plate having a top surface flush with thetop surface of the circular work piece supporting plate.

Due to the fact that the upright support is located at the center of the circular plate and that the arm is located spaced from the top surface of the plate, the top surface is free and capable of slidingly supporting a work piece mounted on the needles and moving with the same during rotation of the needlesupporting ring.

It is advantageous for the operator to work at any part of the machinewithout having to change his position, and

consequently the supporting means are constructed in a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention as a ver-.

tical columnwhich is turnable about a vertical axis.

This arrangement permits a particularly fast and efficient operation. a 1

The drive motor is preferably mounted in the hollow column, and since its supply cable wouldbe wound about the column when the operator turns the same, the motor The novel features which are considered as character'- istic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, to-

gether with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of Y specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, according to the present invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine illustrated in Fig. l with the upper portion pivoted to an inclined to thesame; a needle supporting'ring mounted on the supporting means turnable about-the vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on theneedle supporting ring for movement therewith, the needles projecting from' 'the needle supporting ring and surrounding the circular plate; drive means for rotating the needle supporting ring about the axis and being mounted on the supporting means underneath the circular plate; 'an' upright 'sup'portf projecting upwardly from the circular plate and being located position; and,

' Fig.3 is-a sectional view taken on line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

V to the drawings, a supporting column 2 r n 1 v t a is mounted on the base 1 turnable about a vertical axis.

'- The: lower portion 3 of the supporting column 2 includes carriage means fi a .onwhich' rollers 23 areturnably mounted soth at the rollers 23froll onthe top surface of the base 1 when-the column 2 is turned. The lower portion 3 of the column is preferably covered with a p j rubber sheet 3b or a similar rough-surfaced material so that thecperator canturn the column by pushing the lower portion with thisfeet in the manner of a potters 5 wheel. 3 e

A more o i nta e t 1W FPP i9 i e Patented Dec. 2, 1958 of a machine;

column 2 and has a cable 7. A switch 27 is operated by foot pedal 27a and is mounted on the base 1. Slide contact means, not shown, connect the motor with the switch 27. A drive shaft means 221 located in the hollow column 2 is driven from motor 20a and includes a gradually variable transmission 20.

lever 8 'so that the stitching speed can bevaried between O'and- 300' stitches'per minute. A universal joint 21a and a torsion spring 211; are also provided in the drive shaft means.

A set of needles 6 is mounted on a needle supporting ring 4 and surrounds a circular workpiece supporting plate 12a which is fixedly secured to the supporting column 2. The needle supporting ring 4 includes a ring 9 turnably mounted on an annular support and is concentric to the vertical axis of the supporting column 2. Drive means for rotating the needle supporting ring 4 about the axis of the column are arranged underneath the plate 12a. First stitch-forming means are provided underneath the plate 12a and includes first operating means, and a gripper 10 which is moved by the operating means between a retracted position and a position projecting above the top surface of the plate 12a which is provided with a recess 12 through which the gripper passes. The recess 12 is covered by a cover means 13 which is flush with the top surface of the plate 12a.

The drive means for rotating the needle ring 4 with needles 6,-and the operating means for the gripper 10 are located underneath plate 12a and are driven from the drive shaft means 221.

A hollow upright support 14 projects upwardly from the center of the plate 12a and support 5, and carries a transverse radially extending arm 14a supporting the second stitch-forming means which cooperate with the gripper 10 of the first stitch-forming means and include a needle 11 mounted on a needle bar 15 which is mounted in a bearing on arm 14a and can be laterally oscillated by a cam means 28. During operation, the needle 11 is oscillated to follow the movement of the needles 6 until the stitch is formed whereupon the needle 11 moves back to its initial position after having been retracted.

Needle bar 15 is located outwardly of needles 6 and theinclined needle 6 moves inwardly during stitching operations.

Second operating means for the needle 11 and for the cam means 28, and including a shaft 52, are mounted in the support 14 and in the arm 14a, and driven from the drive shaft means 221. A coupling means is provided for separating the drive shaft 52 of the stitch-forming means 11, 15 from the drive shaft 221. The stitch forming means can then be operated manually by turning hand wheel 16. The coupling means includes a slotted sleeve 21 which is mounted on shaft 221 movable in axial direction and is urged by spring 21b against a pin 152 which is secured to shaft 221. Pin 152 connects shaft 221 and sleeve 21 for turning movement together. A coupling pin 51 is fixedly secured to shaft 52 and projects normally into the slot of sleeve 21, unless sleeve 21 is pushed back against the action of spring 21b.

The ratio of the. transmission can be adjusted by the manually operated As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the entire head portion A of the machine can be pivoted into the inclined position shown in Fig. 2' for facilitating cleaning and other main- A slotted member 57 is pivotally mounted'on apin 56 on the support 5t) and slidably engages a pin 58 which is fix'edly connected to the upper portion of column 2. Thereby pivoting of the head portion of the machinebe yond a final position is prevented.

The first and second operating means for needles 6 and for needles 11 are located in the pivotable head portion and are driven from shaft 52.

Since the coupling pin 51 and shaft 52 projects into the slots of the slotted coupling sleeve 21, the shaft 52 can be separated from the drive shaft 221 which is located in the supporting column of the machine. The spring 211) facilitates the operation of the pivotable head and when the coupling means 51, 21 is disconnected, the second stitch-forming means can be manually operated by turning a hand wheel 19 connected by gear transmission means 1% to shaft 52.

When a knitted work pieceof low resiliency is to be linked to an elastic and highly stretchable band such as a ribbed knitted neckband or a waistband, the knitted work piece is first mounted on the needles 6. It is not necessary to pass each needle 6 through a loop of the knitted work piece, but the knitted work piece is mounted at random on the needles 6, and is gathered or slightly stretched corresponding to the diameter of the needle supporting ring 4. Thereupon, the highly stretchable band is mounted on the needles 6 with a needle 6 passing through each loop'of the stretchable band. It is, however, necessary that the two work pieces have exactly the same length. For th-ispurpose, a turnable indicating ring 17 is provided on the needle supporting ring 4. Indicating pointers 18 and 1841 are movable along the indicating ring 17 and can be fixed on the same'in any selected position.

The operatorturns the indicating ring 17 with the pointers 13=and 13a until the pointers are located at the part of the needle supporting ring 4 where the work piecesare mounted on the needles 6. The pointers 13 and lilo-indicate the necessary length, and consequently the operatorknows whether the knitted work piece must be stretched or gathered for being mounted on the needles 6.

In 'ord'ertoobtain a very even linking seam, a lever 29 is arranged between the thread supply means 32 and the thread tensioner 30. Lever 29- is pivotally mounted on the arm 14a and thread passes through the free end of lever 29 which is operated by the operating means of the needle 11 to turn during each stitch of needle 11 a selected and adjustable angle so that the length of thread required for-the stitch is unwound from the spools of the thread supply means. Consequently, the needle 11 works with slack thread so that very loose linking stitches can be made.

It will be understood that each of the .elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of circular linking machines differing from-the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a circular linking machine having a smooth work piece supporting plate, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the. gist of the present. invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics-of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as'new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: i

1. ha machine of the type described, in. combination, supporting means having a vertical axis; a plate having a smooth top surface and being. mounted on said supporting means concentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same; a needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting means turnable about said verticalaxis; a set of needles mounted on saidneedle supporting ring for movement therewith,

saidrneedles projecting from said needle supporting ring.

right support projecting upwardly from said plate and,

being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced'from said top surface of said plate and having a freeend located above said needles; first stitch-forming means mounted on said supporting means underneath said plate and adjacent said needle supporting ring; and second stitch-forming means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said first stitch-forming means during rotation of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles to link two work pieces mounted on said set of needles and sliding on said top surface of said plate, respectively. 7 i i 2, .In a machine of the type described, in combination; a supporting column having a vertical axis; a circular plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said supporting columnconcentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same; a needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting column turnable about said vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting from said needle supporting ring and surrounding said circular plate; drive means for rotating said needle supporting ring about said axis and being mounted on'said supporting column-underneath said circular plate; an upright support projecting upwardly from said circular plate and being located at the center 7 thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced from said top surface of 'said' circular plate and having a free end. located; above said needles; first stitch-forming means mounted onsaid supporting column underneath said circular plate set ofQneedles and sliding'on saidtop surface of said circular plate, respectively. I V

'3. In a machine of the type described, in combination, a hollow supporting column havinga vertical axis; a plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said 's'upporting column concentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same; a needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting column turnable about said vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting fromsaid needles supporting ring and surrounding said plate; drive means for rotating said needle supportingring about said axis and being mounted on said supporting column underneath said plate; a hollow upright support projecting upwardly from said plate and being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial directionfrom said upright support spaced from said top surface of said plate and having a free end-located above said needles; firststitch-forining means including first operating means mounted on said supporting column underneath said plate; second stitch-forming means including needle means located at said free end of' said arm and cooperating with said first stitch-forming means during rotation of said needle supporting ringtand of said set of'needles to link two work pieces mounted on said set of needles andsliding on said top surface of said plate, respectively; second operating means for said needle means of said second stitch-forming means located in said hollow uprightsup- 4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said free end of said transverse arm and said needle means is located outwardly of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles.

5, In a machine of the type described, in combination, supportingmeans having a vertical axis; a circular plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said supporting means concentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same, said circular plate having a recess in the periphery thereof; a

needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting means turnable about said vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting from said needle supporting ring and surrounding said circular plate; drive means for rotating said needle supporting ring about said axis and being mounted on said supporting means underneath said circular plate; an upright support projecting upwardly from said circular plate and being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced from said top surface of said circular plate and having a free end located above said needles; first stitch-forming means mounted on said supporting means underneath said circular plate and including a movable gripper means located adjacent said needle supporting ring underneath said recess and being movable through said recess into a position projecting above said top surface of said circular plate; and second stitch-forming means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said gripper means of said first stitchforming means during rotation of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles to link two work pieces.

mounted on said set of needles and sliding on said top surface of said circularplate, respectively. H

'6'. In a machine of the type described, in combination,

a hollow supporting column having a vertical axis; a

circular plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said supporting column concentric with said vertical axiswith said top surface extending transverse to the same, said circular plate having a recess in the periphery thereof; a needle supporting ring mounted on 7 support projecting upwardly from said circular plate and being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said uprightsupport spaced from said top surface of said circular plate and having a free endlocated above said needles; first stitchforming means including first operating means mounted on said supporting column underneath said circular plate and movable gripper means actuated by said first operating means and located adjacent said needle supporting ring and underneath said recess, said gripper 'means' being movable through said recess into a position projecting above said top surface of said circular plate; second stitchforming means including needle means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said gripper means of said first stitch-forming means during rotations of said needlesupporting ring and of said set of needles to link two work pieces mounted on said set of'n'eedles' and sliding-on said top surface of said circular plate, respectively; second operating-means for said needle means located in said arm and in said hollow upright support; and drive shaft meanslocated in said supporting column and extending into said lhollow upright support for driving said first'and second operating'means. v r -7. In a machine of the type described, in combination, a supporting base; a supporting column having a vertical axis and being mounted on said base for turning movement' 7 about said vertical axis; a circular plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said supporting column concentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same; a needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting column turnable about said vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting from said needle supporting ring and surrounding said circular plate; drive means for rotating said needle supporting ring about said axis and being mounted on said supporting column underneath said circular plate; an upright support projecting upwardly from said circular plate and being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced from said top surface of said circular plate and having a free end located above said needles; first stitch-forming means mounted on said supporting column underneath said circular plate and adjacent said needle supporting ring; and second stitch-forming means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said first stitch-forming means during rotation of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles to link two work pieces mounted on said set of needles and sliding on said top surface of said circular plate, respectively.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said supporting column is hollow and including a motor located in said hollow supporting column and supported thereon; drive shaft means and transmission means located in said hollow supporting column and being operatively connected to said drive means for said needle supporting ring and to said first and second stitch-forming means for driving the same.

9. In a machine of the type described, in combination, a supporting base; a supporting column having a vertical axis and being mounted on said base for turning movement about said vertical axis; a circular plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said supporting column concentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same, said circular plate having a recess in the periphery thereof; a needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting column turnable about said vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting from said needle supporting ring and surrounding said circular plate; drive means for rotating said needle supporting ring about said axis and being mounted on said supporting column underneath said circular plate; a hollow upright support projecting upwardly from said circular plate and being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced from said top surface of said circular plate and having a free end located above said needles; first stitch-forming means including first operating means mounted on said supporting column underneathtsaid circular plate and movable gripper means actuated by said first operating means and located adjacent said needle supporting ring and underneath said recess, said gripper means being movable through said recess into a position projecting above said top surface of said circular plate; second stitch-forming means including needle means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said gripper means of said first stitch-forming means during rotation of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles to link two work pieces mounted on said set of needles and sliding on said top surface of said circular plate, respectively; second operating means for said needle means located in said arm and in said hollow upright support; and drive shaft means located in said supporting column and extending into said hollow upright-support for driving said first and second operating means.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 and including a motor located in said hollow supporting column and supported thereon; variable transmission means located in 8 said hollow supporting column and being operatively connected to said drive means for said needle supporting ring and to said first and second operating means for driving the same.

11. In a machine of the type described, in combination, supporting means having a vertical axis; a circular plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said supporting means concentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same; a needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting means turnable about said vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting from said needle supporting ring and surrounding said circular plate; drive means for rotating said needle supporting ring about said axis and being mounted on said supporting means underneath said circular plate; an indicating ring provided with a scale and being mounted on said supporting means for turning movement about said vertical axis, said indicating ring being located adjacent said needle supporting ring; a plurality of indicating pointers mounted on said indicating ring for movement thereon, said indicating pointers projecting towards said set of needles and being adapted to indicate the length and section of a work piece mounted on said needles; an upright support projecting upwardly from said circular plate and being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced from said top surface of said circular plate and having a free end located above said needles; first stitch-forming means mounted on said supporting means underneath said circular plate and adjacent said needle supporting ring; and second stitchforming means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said first stitch-forming means during rotation of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles to link two work pieces mounted on said set of needles and sliding on said top surface of said circular plate, respectively.

12. In a machine of the type described, in combination, supporting means having a vertical axis; a circular plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said supporting means concentric with said vertical axis with said top surface extending transverse to the same, said circular plate having a recess in the periphery thereof; a cover plate flush with said top surface of said circular plate and located in said recess; a needle supporting ring mounted on said supporting means turnable about said vertical axis; a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting from said needle supporting ring and surrounding said circular plate; drive means for rotating said needle supporting ring about said axis and being mounted on said supporting means underneath said circular plate; an upright support projecting upwardly from said circular plate and being located at the center thereof; a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced from said top surface of said circular plate and having a free end located above said needles; first stitch-forming means mounted on said supporting means underneath said circular plate and including a movable gripper means located adjacent said needle supporting ring underneath said recess and being movable through said recess into a position projecting above said top surface of said circular plate; and second stitch-forming means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said gripper means of said first stitch-forming means during rotation of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles to link two work pieces mounted on said set of needles, and sliding on said cover plate and said top surface of said circular plate, respectively.

13. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drive shaft means includes a drive shaft located in said supporting column, said drive shaft including a universal joint, and a torsion spring means, said drive shaft means also including another shaft extending into said hollow upright support for driving said second operating means, and coupling means connecting said other shaft with said drive shaft.

14. In a machine of the type described, in combination, a hollow supporting column having a vertical axis; a machine head including a support, pivot means connecting said support with the top of said supporting column for pivoting said support between a normal position resting upon the top of said supporting column and an inclined position, a plate having a smooth top surface and being mounted on said support With said top surface extending transverse to said vertical axis of said column, a needle supporting ring mounted on said support turnable about said vertical axis, a set of needles mounted on said needle supporting ring for movement therewith, said needles projecting from said needle supporting ring and surrounding said plate, drive means for rotating said 'needle supporting ring about said axis and being mounted on said support underneath said plate, a hollow upright support projecting upwardly from said support and from said plate and being located at the center thereof, a transverse arm projecting in radial direction from said upright support spaced from said top surface of said plate and having a free end located above said needles, first stitchforming means including first operating means mounted 25 on said support underneath said plate, second stitch-forming means including needle means located at said free end of said arm and cooperating with said first stitch-forming means during rotation of said needle supporting ring and of said set of needles to link two workpieces mounted on said set of needles and sliding on said top surface of said plate, respectively, second operating means for said needle means of said second stitch-forming means located in said hollow upright support, and a shaft located in said vertical axis for driving said first and second operating means; a drive shaft means located in said supporting column and extending to the top end thereof coaxial with said shaft; and coupling means for coupling said shaft and said drive shaft in said normal position of said machine head.

15. A machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said coupling means includes a slotted sleeve fixed to said drive shaft means, and a transverse pin fixed to said shaft and cooperating with said slotted sleeve.

16. A machine as set forth in claim 15, and including means connecting said supporting column and said support for limiting pivotal movement of said machine head relative to said column.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 808,390 Lange Dec. 26, 1905 2,264,234 Bell Nov. 25, 1941 2,560,435 Grandnom July 10, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 278,633 Germany Oct. 1, 1914 

